LAKEWOOD, N.J. -- Fighting Illini baseball (23-24, 12-12) was shutout in their Big Ten finale, 3-0, by Rutgers (32-19, 13-8) on Sunday at ShoreTown Ballpark.
Illinois finishes Big Ten play with a 12-12 record. They have finished .500 or better in conference play in four-straight seasons.
Illini starter Julius Sanchez would start his day with two scoreless frames, but Rutgers found the breakthrough in third, scoring twice on four hits to take a 2-0 lead.
Illinois would only collect four more hits the rest of the way and were not able to advance a runner past second base in the contest.
Alex Vera and TJ Constertina would combine for 3.2 scoreless innings in relief, scattering five hits and stranding five baserunners.
The Scarlet Knights added to their lead with a home run in the eighth, but the Illini went down in order in the ninth to end the ballgame.
Illinois baseball will be back in action on Thursday, as the Fighting Illini welcome UT-Martin to Illinois Field for the final series of the regular season. First pitch of Thursday's series opener is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Connor Milton went 2-for-4 with a double.
    » Career-high two hits.
    » Third double of the season.
» Branden Comia went 1-for-3 with a walk.
    » Extended his hitting streak to eight games...is batting .405 (15-for-37) with three doubles, three home runs and seven RBI during that span.
    » Is now tied for 10th in program history in hits (243).
» Alex Vera tossed 2.2 innings in relief, allowing four hits and striking out two.
    » Has not allowed a run in his last 3.2 innings pitched, spanning two games.
» The Fighting Illini went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, last placing a runner as far as second in the fourth.
» Illinois pitchers limited Rutgers to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Illinois pitchers faced 40 Rutgers hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out five.
» The Fighting Illini drew four walks from Rutgers pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
